Chapter 197


    "Brother..."


    Kimberly was so baffled that she couldn''t help taking a couple more steps backwards, avoiding


    Benedict''s touch, "What... what are you talking about?"


    Benedict looked straight into her eyes. He stared at her unwaveringly and forced a bitter smile, "You


    are a smart girl. I''m sure you know what I mean."


    Kimberly was frightened and her face nched at once.


    She was Maddox''s wife. How could Benedict do this to his own brother? At this moment, Kimberly''s


    mind was in a mess. She shook her head while taking a few steps back again, but Benedict went up


    to her and grabbed her shoulder. He continued, "You saw his reactionst night. He didn''t care


    about you at all, Kimberly. My heart ached for you. I don''t want you to suffer anymore."


    "Let me go!" Kimberly''s lips trembled as she struggled away from him, "Even if Maddox doesn''t care


    about me, why would you? You are his brother!"


    "That''s exactly why! I''ve been holding back all this time because I''m his brother!" Benedict blurted


    and his tone was harsh. Suddenly, the atmosphere went freezing as he spoke again, "If he wasn''t


    my brother, I would have harmed him for hurting you."


    Kimberly''s lips were stiffened into a straight line and she stayed silent. Staring at him incredulously,


    she couldn''t believe what was happening.


    How could this happen? Did Benedict have feelings for her? Or... was he just sick of watching her


    living such a miserable life and pitied her?


    "I don''t want to see you getting hurt again, do you understand?"


    "No!" Kimberly thought of something important and abruptly pushed Benedict away, "You can''t do


    this. You''re Maddox''s brother, and so you''re my brother. We can''t be together. I only came to tell


    you that I''m satisfied with the department I''m working in now. I won''t ept the promotion!"


    After she was done speaking, Kimberly straightaway dashed out of the office.


    Valeria was waiting for her by the door. When Kimberly rushed out suddenly, Valeria was almost


    knocked down in the process. After giving a quick apology, Kimberly turned around and left in a


    hurry. Confused, Valeria watched her run away and turned to look at Benedict in the office.


    "Vice President Yardley, what... What happened to her?"


    Benedict looked on as Kimberly''s figure disappeared out of sight. He lowered his eyes and smiled


    bitterly.


    "Perhaps I have scared her away."


    Valeria was puzzled, "What did you do to..."


    Benedict cut her off, "Go back to work. If she doesn''t report for dutyter, please do me a favor and


    fetch her from her department." Valeria was speechless.


    "D*mn!" she cursed inwardly.


    Valeria slowly pieced everything together. Since he had wanted her to personally fetch Kimberly


    over, she thought that he must have feelings for Kimberly.


    Many people in the department were surprised when they saw Kimberly returning.


    "Hey, why are you back? I thought you were promoted to be Vice President Yardley''s secretary?"


    "Yeah, why are you back again?"


    Kimberly wasn''t close with these people and she didn''t want to befriend them either. After all, they


    all had joined in the fun whenever Agnes and Lydia had made fun of her.


    So, she shook her head in response and sat down silently.


    "Hey, I heard that Agnes and Lydia were fired too. What on earth happened? Miss Shell, they were


    always picking on you. Now, they were fired while you''re promoted. Does this have anything to do


    with you?"


    "That''s right. Tell us, we want to know the truth." "Come one, tell us."


    Kimberly was already annoyed in the first ce. When everyone kept probing her with questions,


    her irritation intensified. She got frustrated and stood up abruptly while yelling.


    "I didn''t fire them, and I didn''t give myself a promotion. How would I know what happened? I had


    even heard of my promotion from you guys. If you really want to know, go and ask the people who


    fired them!"


    Everyone was shocked at Kimberly''s outrage. They didn''t know what was happening and someone


    scoffed.


    "Why are you acting this way? We were just asking. You can choose not to answer us, but you


    didn''t have tosh out."


    "Humph, who does she think she is? As soon as she''s promoted, she starts to show her true colors.


    What an arrogant person! I hope that she gets fired next!"


    "Right. She used to be Young Master Yardley''s assistant, but after her promotion, she''s just Vice


    President Yardley''s secretary. Why is she thinking so highly of herself?"


    Hearing these, Kimberly could only sneer. She ignored them, taking her seat and continued her


    work.


    Agnes, Lydia, and Lincoln were fired.


    She didn''t know if Benedict or Maddox had done it.


    When she thought of both of them, Kimberly had a headache.


    She didn''t expect that Benedict would say something like that to her. Their rtionship had always


    beenplicated. To make things worse, he had now even...


    After that, Kimberly got lost in her thoughts and did her work inattentively.


    At noon, Kimberly walked out of the department and saw Vera. When Vera saw her, she rushed


    over instantly and hugged Kimberly.


    She said, "I thought you wouldn''te to work today."


    After that, Vera scanned her entire body from head to toe and questioned, "How are you even


    standing?"


    Kimberly was confused. "Why can''t I?"


    "I mean... Last night, you and Young Master Yardley... Wasn''t it intense?"


    Realizing what Vera meant, Kimberly deadpanned, "What are you thinking about?"


    "Hey! You were drugged. How could a man resist a woman like you? Oh, dear. Could it be..."


    Speaking of this, Vera paused. Her eyes widened as she gasped loudly, attracting people''s


    attention.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Vera cleared her throat and asked, "So, does he really have erectile dysfunction?"


    Kimberly was shocked when she heard this. Her face fell and she quickly reached out to cover


    Vera''s mouth.


    "Don''t talk nonsense!"


    Vera blinked and shook her head, only then did Kimberly let go. She chided, "Stop asking about it. It


    has nothing to do with Maddox anyway. Come one, let''s go eat."


    Kimberly walked straight ahead and Vera followed her quickly.


    Vera said, "I don''t care. You need to tell me everything. Why are you his wife? Why didn''t I know


    about this?"


    It had taken a long, sleepless night for Vera to ept this fact.


    Kimberly was irritated when she heard Vera mention it. Vera always had the ability to make her spill


    everything. Kimberly had no choice but to exin, "I am also confused. It''s a long story, I..."


    "Then, make it short for me!" Vera mmed on the table. "I''ll give you some time to prepare. In the


    meantime, I''ll get you lunch. When I''m back, I want the whole story."


    Before Kimberly could react, Vera had stood up and run away. Watching as Vera vanished out of


    sight, Kimberly was very helpless. She sighed in her heart and thought that Vera was such a cheeky


    girl.


    However, she should thank Vera for her help in bringing Maddox to herst night. Vera had most


    probably noticed her disappearance and reported it to Maddox.


    If Maddox hadn''t been therest night, she might have been taken away by Benedict.


    If things went that direction, she would never be able to rify the situation.